Another international award has strengthened QIU’s reputation for research excellence on the global stage, after the Faculty of Integrated Life Sciences’ Associate Professor Ts. Dr Ranjetta Poobathy won the Best Presenter Award at the 3rd International Plantation, Agriculture and Food Security Conference (IPAFoS) 2026.
The award, presented in the Sustainable Plantation and Crop Production category, recognises the quality, innovation, and impact of Dr Ranjetta’s research, as well as her outstanding presentation among an international field of researchers and academics.
Organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)’s Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, , IPAFoS 2026 brought together researchers, policymakers, industry experts, and practitioners from Malaysia and overseas to share cutting-edge research and innovative solutions addressing challenges in plantation systems, sustainable agriculture, and food security.
It attracted participants from leading higher education institutions across Malaysia, including Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn. The conference also welcomed international participants from institutions such as the University of Kirkuk, Iraq, and Indonesia’s Universitas Brawijaya, Universitas Padjadjaran, and Universitas Panca Bhakti.
Representing QIU’s School of Applied Sciences under the Faculty of Integrated Life Sciences (FILS), Dr Poobathy presented her research paper, Influence of Selected Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) and Elicitors on Callus and Steroid Production in Edible Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor), which was co-authored by QIU alumni Chan Jun Xiang, Wong Jing Hui, and Navina Ravi.
The study explored in vitro approaches to enhance the production of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), a naturally occurring plant steroid with promising applications in agriculture, aquaculture, and the pharmaceutical industry. The research demonstrated that optimised combinations of plant growth regulators significantly improved callus formation and steroid biosynthesis, while the addition of elicitors did not provide further benefits. These findings offer valuable insights into developing more efficient and scalable plant-based production systems.
This latest achievement reflects QIU’s commitment to producing impactful research that addresses real-world challenges while contributing to sustainable development and global food security. It also underscores the University’s continued emphasis on nurturing researchers whose work creates meaningful scientific and societal impact, especially among our talented alumni!
Heartfelt congratulations to Associate Professor Ts. Dr Ranjetta Poobathy and her research team on this outstanding achievement—we wish you continued success in your future research endeavours!
